Cops: Connecticut woman says stolen money was 'God-sent'

Published March 14. 2013 9:00AM | Updated March 14. 2013 9:09AM

Associated Press

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Bridgeport woman charged with theft told police she believed the $74,000 that mysteriously appeared in her bank account was "God-sent" after she prayed for relief from her financial problems. So she paid off her bills.

But police told the Connecticut Post the money belonged to C-Town supermarket in Stratford and was mistakenly transferred into Donna Hutchinson's account. The 49-year-old grandmother was charged with felony larceny in late December.

Hutchinson faced foreclosure and mounting debt. She told police that a day after praying for help in October 2010, $4,000 appeared in her account and it swelled to $74,000 over the next two years.

She spent the money paying her debts. Her public defender declined to comment.

The supermarket owner says People's United Bank reimbursed him for his losses Wednesday.